RACE RUNDOWNnews and links

McMurray wins at Talladega: #26-Jamie McMurray won the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway under a green-white-checkered finish that ended under caution for his 1st win of the season and third of his career.
#9-Kahne finished 2nd, followed by #20-Logano, #16-Biffle, #31-Burton, #48-Johnson, #55-Waltrip, #09-Keselowski, #19-Sadler and #71-Labonte.
The other Chasers finished as follows: #83-Vickers 13th, #99-Edwards 14th, #42-Montoya 19st [caught in final accident], #24-Gordon 20th [caught in final accident], #5-Martin 28th [caught in final accident], #2-Busch 30th [caught in final accident], #14-Stewart 35th [caught in accident with 4 to go], #39-Newman 36th [caught in accident with 4 to go], and #11-Hamlin 38th [lost engine].
The first "big one" came with 4 laps to go, even though it only collected 5 cars. #39-Newman checked up to keep from getting into #14-Stewart. #47-Ambrose got into the back of Newman causing him to spin out of line, he turned backwards, flipped upside down, end over end, and landed on the hood of #29-Harvick. #19-Salder was also collected. Newman flipped a couple more times and the car came to rest on its roof. Safety crews had to flip the car over and cut the roof off to get Newman out but he was able to walk to the ambulance under his own power. The red flag was out for 13 minutes during cleanup. After the red flag was lifted, several drivers including #5-Gordon, #24-Gordon and #42-Montoya ran out of gas, further delaying the restart of the race for the finish.
Then coming to the white flag #09-Keselowski appeared to get in the back of #2-Busch, spinning him into traffic and collecting a number of cars and causing NASCAR to throw the caution flag.
There were 6 cautions for 23 yellow flag laps and there were 60 lead changes among 26 drivers.Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
ESPN2: Monday, November 2 at 3:00am/et
ESPN Classic: Monday, November 2 at 1:00pm/et
SPEED, Wednesday, November 4 at 12:00pm/et
For race results, awards and more, see my Talladega Superspeedway Race Results Page.(11-1-2009)

Notes/Facts after Talladega Superspeedway:
# Jamie McMurray won the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. This marked McMurray's first win in 15 races at Talladega.
# McMurray became the 14th different race winner in 2009.
# This was the first victory by a Ford since Matt Kenseth won at California in February.
# McMurray became the first non-Chase driver to score a Chase victory since Greg Biffle at Kansas in 2007, ending a 23-race streak of victories in Chase races by a Chase driver.
# McMurray scored his fifth top-10 finish in 15 races at Talladega. He started Sunday's race in the 22nd-place position.
# McMurray scored his second restrictor-plate victory in 29 career restrictor-plate races. He also won at Daytona in July 2007.
# McMurray scored his third Cup victory in his 255th career start.
# This was the third victory by Roush Fenway Racing at Talladega.
# Jimmie Johnson holds the points lead by 184 over second-place Mark Martin. This is the largest points lead in the 2009 Chase.
# The biggest points comeback with three races remaining occurred in 1990 when Dale Earnhardt came from 49 points behind to win the title.
# The biggest points lead overcome with three to go in the Chase was 26 points by Jimmie Johnson in 2006. Interestingly, Johnson was minus-9 points with three to go in 2007. In 2008 he was the points leader and never looked back.
# Kasey Kahne (second) tied his best Talladega finish. Kahne has competed in 24 career restrictor-plate races without a victory. It was his best finish in the 2009 Chase. He climbed from 11th to ninth in points.
# Joey Logano (third) was the highest-finishing rookie.
# Greg Biffle (fourth) scored his best Talladega finish in 14 races there. It was his second straight top-10 finish at Talladega. He finished seventh there in April. He climbed from eighth to seventh in points.
# Jeff Burton (fifth) ended an 18-race streak of finishes of 14th or worse.
# Jimmie Johnson (sixth) scored his seventh top-10 finish in 16 races at Talladega.
# Johnson's worst finish in the last 33 Chase races is 15th (Texas and Homestead in 2008).
# Johnson, who failed to lead, ended a 13-race streak of leading a lap at Talladega. Johnson led in just one of the four restrictor-plate races this season (two laps at the first Talladega race). Johnson has led in 27 of the 33 races this season, the only driver to do so.
# Elliott Sadler (ninth) extended a 14-race streak of leading a lap at Talladega.
# McMurray led five times for a race-high 32 laps, including the final 11. Before Sunday, he had led just one lap all season (the first Pocono race).
# Casey Mears (25th) is the only driver to finish on the lead lap in the last five races at Talladega.
# Martin (28th) remained second but lost 66 points on first-place Johnson.
# Kurt Busch finished 30th in his 350th career start.
# Martin Truex Jr. finished 31st in his 150th career start.
# Tony Stewart (35th) ended a 55-race streak of running at the finish.
# Denny Hamlin (38th) was the lowest-finishing Chase driver at Talladega.
# The top 10 consisted of four Chevrolets, three Fords, two Toyotas and one Dodge.(ESPN.com)(11-2-2009)

Race Fast Facts - Talladega Superspeedway:
Jamie McMurray won the AMP Energy 500, his third victory in 255 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2009.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 15 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
The 26 different leaders is tied for second-most all-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 60 lead changes is ninth-most all-time.
Kasey Kahne (second) posted his second top-10 finish in 12 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2009.
Joey Logano (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 184 points over Mark Martin.
(NASCAR Statistics)(11-1-2009)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Texas Motor Speedway:
No changes, but the spread between 35th and 36th now up to 135 points (was 123)
34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 2565, +185
35) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 2515, 135 points ahead of 36ththese teams/drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 2380, 135 points out of 35th
(no other teams are within 500 owners points of 35th)
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owners points standings, see my Owners Points Standings.(11-1-2009)

Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Talladega (or seemed to)?
41st: #66-Blaney, 12 laps
#87-Nemecheck, who has been starting and parking some races, was caught in the first wreck on lap 5.
(only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(11-1-2009)

Pit Stall Selections - Talladega: The selections of pit stalls for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway have been made. Pole sitter #48-Johnson chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #5-Martin took pit stall 29, the second pit with an opening in front of it.
#24-Gordon, who starts 3rd took the 17th pit stall, the first stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #07-Bowyer, who starts 19th.
To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Talladega Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-31-2009)

Double Yellow Line at Daytona/Talladega = do not pass: In order to emphasize the yellow-line rule at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway where passes are not permitted, NASCAR has made the single yellow line into a double-yellow line. The second yellow line was painted on the inside of the existing yellow line.(2-8-2009)

NASCAR shrinks restrictor plates at Talladega: NASCAR will reduce the size of the restrictor plate and allow teams an optional change as a way to slow the cars and try to keep them from getting airborne at Talladega. Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby [said] Friday at Auto Club Speedway that the restrictor plate will be reduced 1/64 of an inch. The new size will be 59/64 of an inch. Darby estimates it will shave 12 horsepower off the engines. Teams also have been given an option on side wickers, something they hadn't been allowed to use before at Talladega. Darby said that teams "will be able to add the same little side wicker to the end plate (on the rear wing) much like they do at the downforce tracks. If you look at all the cars in the garage right now on that end plate, all the way out on the back edge they've got a little half by half piece of aluminum. That's eight inches long. It helps in yaw or when the cars are turned. It kind of settles the back of the car down a little bit."(Virginian Pilot)(10-10-2009)

NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule for Cup, Nationwide: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton explains new restart rules: NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton gave an explanation Friday of the new double-file restart rules. Here are excerpts of the conversation with the media and his answers to some questions ask.SD: What is the procedure for double-file restarts?Pemberton: “When the caution comes out, the field will be frozen as it is today. The free-pass car will be identified as it is today and it will be the same format. As the cars are gathered behind the pace car, the pit road is opened for leaders, the second time by it will be open for the lap-down cars, and that is how it is today. And when we come to the one [lap]-to-go [until the green drops], the cars that have elected not to pit that are lap-down cars that will be in front of the lead-lap cars that have pitted, will be waved around to join the field at the tail end. The lineup will be on the double-file restart, lead-lap cars to the front, lap-down cars, … then it will be the free-pass car, then it will be the cars that have been waved around and then it will be the penalty cars.SD: If a guy on the lead lap opts not to pit, he’s the leader?Pemberton: Correct. Still P1 [the leader].SD: Is there an option for the lead car to select which lane?Pemberton: When we give the 1-to-go, the leader throughout the entire race will get lane choice, high or low. He has to make that choice when we come to the 1-to-go at the stripe. One other thing we have added is the free pass will take place from start to finish throughout the entire race.SD: If a car on the lead lap pits a second time with the lap-down cars, does he restart with the lap-down cars?Pemberton: He will start in his respective track position how he came off of pit road. If you have a lead-lap car who makes multiple pit stops to work on his car, he is not in that lead-lap group that pitted that first-time by. He’ll be scored where he comes off pit road [with lapped cars]SD: The lap-down cars that don’t pit and the get the wave around the leader, do they get to come all the way around to rear of the field?Pemberton: That’s correct but they will not be able to hit pit road for tires and fuel. Pit road won’t be closed but they will forfeit their wave-around status if they hit pit road for tires and fuel.SD: At tracks like Martinsville and Bristol and you’re waiting for the 1-to-go, are you anticipating that the wave around could be hard to be completed?Pemberton: There could be issues. Every track has its different set of challenges. We’ll have to address those when we get to them. The whole field will be double file so they won’t be as strung out.SD: If multiple lead-lap cars stay out, do the lap-down cars that don’t pit still get waved around?Pemberton: The only way you can be waved around is if you are between the leader and the pace car. As pit stops take place, you need to be in front of the lead-lap cars. You get waved around regardless if you’re one or two or three laps down [or more].SD: Are you going to use double-file restarts throughout the race for every race?Pemberton: Yes.SD: It was said that Trucks and Nationwide will use it later this year? Any timetable?Pemberton: It’s just later. We need to work through some of these details here. We’ve got three races in three different states [this weekend]. We want to make sure we concentrate on this [in Cup] and get everything as right as we can.(SceneDaily)(6-7-2009)

NASCAR Announces “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style”: NASCAR announced a change to its race format with the addition of “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style” throughout each race. Beginning with this weekend at Pocono Raceway, the first- and second-place drivers will line up side-by-side as the green flag flies for each restart. “We’ve heard the fans loud and clear: ‘double-file restarts – shootout style’ are coming to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans.”
NASCAR recently used the “double-file” format for its non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which produced an unpredictable finish. The format will be adapted for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the near future. Under the previous format, cars on the lead lap would restart in a single-file line while cars that had been lapped would start in a line next to them.
Under the new format, the race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane. The second-place driver would then restart next to the leader. Regardless of where the leader starts, drivers in odd number positions (3rd, 5th, 7th places, etc.) will restart on the inside lane, while drivers in even number positions (4th, 6th, 8th places, etc.) will restart on the outside. All restarts will use the same format regardless of the number of laps remaining in the race.
The first-place driver will continue to control the timing of restarts in a designated zone on the track. Likewise, cars are to stay in line until they reach the start/finish line. The first eligible car a lap or more down will continue to earn one lap back following a caution, which is known as the “free pass.” However, a new element beginning this week will be that the “free pass” will remain in effect the entire race [before it was all race until 10 or less laps to go, then none was awarded]. Lapped cars choosing to remain on the track will be “waved around” the caution car and will restart the race in respective track position, thus picking up a lap to the leader provided the leader also pits. This will also remove lapped cars from behind the pace car, allowing the leaders to take the green without interference [so the leader will not restart in the middle of the pack].(NASCAR)(6-4-2009)

NEWS, PRACTICE and QUALIFYINGnews, notes and links

Qualifying rained out; Johnson on pole: Rain at Talladega, AL cause qualifying for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway to be cancelled and the field has been set by the NASCAR rule book: Top 35 in owners points, past winner as owner [#09], then the remaining seven cars by race attempts. It is the sixth time qualifying has been rained out this season. #48-Johnson will start on the pole followed by #5-Martin, #24-Gordon, #14-Stewart, #42-Montoya, #2-Busch, #39-Newman, #16-Biffle, #11-Hamlin, #99-Edwards, #9-Kahne, and #83-Vickers. The #37-Tony Raines team withdrew this morning so there were only 43 attempting the race. No one was sent home. See the starting lineup on the Talladega Qualifying / Starting Lineup Page.(10-31-2009)

IMPOUND: the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is the third and final IMPOUND race of 2009, there are THREE impound races in 2009, both Talladega races [April & Nov] and Daytona in July. For more info, see my Impounding Info page

Qualifying Order for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #5-Martin.
The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #7-Gordon.
The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #36-Richardsom with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #78-Smith.
See the full qualifying order on the Talladega Qualifying Page.(10-30-2009)

Happy Hour/Final Practice for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is over, the fastest:
#33-Bowyer 193.154
#55-Waltrip 192.116
#48-Johnson 191.214
#43-Sorenson 191.016
#2-Busch 190.863
slowest: #66-Blaney 180.041 & #77-Hornish 178.490. 38 cars have been on track.
notes: NASCAR spent much of the session warning drivers to not drive so agressively during practice. Midway through the session, #55-Waltrip was temporarily parked by NASCAR after bump drafting in the corners.
See speeds, ave speed. laps run and more on my Talladega Practice Speeds Page.(10-30-2009)

The First Practice for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is over, the fastest:
#9-Kahne 195.944
#11-Hamlin 195.944
#98-Menard 197.701
#98-Darnell 194.595
#20-Logano 194.149
slowest: #37-Raines 181.415 & #66-Blaney 180.203
incidents: Several cars bumped off each other early in the session causing #33-Bowyer to spin and #77 Hornish to suffer sheetmetal damage. Bowyer's crew will repair his car, Hornish will go to a backup.
See speeds, ave speed. laps run and more on my Talladega Practice Speeds Page.(10-30-2009)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Talladega Superspeedway:
No changes, but the spread between 35th and 36th now up to 123 points (was 98)
34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 2493, +195
35) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 2421, 123 points ahead of 36ththese teams/drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 2298, 123 points out of 35th
(no other teams are within 500 owners points of 35th)
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owners points standings, see my Owners Points Standings.(10-25-2009)

What happens if qualifying gets rained out?After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
#6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
#7) - Qualifying Order Position
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: NASCAR announced in January that starting with the Cup race at California, teams outside the top 35 in owners points will be allowed to qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The Nationwide and Truck Series used this procedure at Daytona. Sprint Cup didn't use the new procedure at Daytona due to the unique/somewhat complicated qualifying session/races there. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers).

Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

RACE RECORDS, NOTES, RULES and NEWS

Chase stats going into Talladega: #48-Jimmie Johnson's torrid run in Chase VI continued Sunday with another podium finish at Martinsville. Since finishing 24th at Talladega in the fourth Chase race in 2006, Johnson has accomplished the following over the last 32 chase races:
* No finish worse than 15th
* 28 Top 10s out of 32 races
* 22 Top 5s
* 20 Podium Finishes [top 3]
* 11 Wins
The #48 figures to hang out in the back at Talladega on Sunday, and make a run to the front over the last 10 to 15 laps. A top five at Dega would encourage the Sprint Cup engravers to get to work. Johnson's Dega finishes in the last three title runs: 24th in 2006, 2nd in 2007 and 9th in 2008. Johnson's 118-point lead over Mark Martin is not his greater margin after six Chase races. Last year, he led by 149 at the six-race mark. The difference is, Talladega was race #4 on last year's schedule. While Jimmie Johnson may hang in the back Sunday, #5-Mark Martin and #24-Jeff Gordon must go for it. Given the fact the #5 and #24 are the only two within one race range of Johnson, it figures the title will be won by one of the three Hendrick teammates.After six Chase races [of 10], #48-Jimmie Johnson has the 2nd largest points lead of any of the 6 Chases [2004-2009]. The points leaders after six races in each of the 6 chase seasons:
2009: Jimmie Johnson 118 points ahead of Mark Martin
2008: Jimmie Johnson 149 points ahead of Greg Biffle
2007: Jeff Gordon 53 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson
2006: Matt Kenseth 30 points ahead of Kevin Harvick (Johnson was 3rd -41 and won the Chase)
2005: Tony Stewart 15 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson
2004: Kurt Busch 96 points ahead of Jeff Gordon
(season champ in bold), see year-by-year comparision after 6 races, race-by-race for 2009 on my Chase Starts page and Chase history, how things would had looked back to 1975 if the Chase was used, on my 2009 Chase Rules and History page.(10-27-2009)

At Talladega Superspeedway:
• Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.

• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969.

• The track changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.

• Track’s fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.

• There have been 80 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway since the track opened in 1969; two a year every year except the inaugural season, which had just one.

• Richard Brickhouse won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

• Bobby Isaac won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole in September 1969. Isaac won the first three poles there.

• 35 different drivers have won poles. Juan Pablo Montoya won the pole in this season’s spring race, his first career pole.

• Bill Elliott leads all drivers with eight poles.

• 38 different drivers have posted victories, led by Dale Earnhardt Sr. (10). Eighteen drivers have won more than once. Brad Keselowski became a first-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner with his win earlier this season.

• Jeff Gordon leads all other active drivers in victories, with six.

• Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 races, more than any other organization.

• 31 of 80 races have been won from a top-two starting position, including 13 from the pole; 22 have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. The most recent driver to win from the pole was Jeff Gordon in 2007 (spring).

• The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in 2000. Two of the last four races have been won from the 34th starting position (Jeff Gordon in 2007 and Tony Stewart in 2008).

• Mark Martin’s pace in the 1997 spring race set an all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for the fastest race ever. He won the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph and covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. had four consecutive victories (October 2001 through April 2003), the most ever by a driver there. Buddy Baker (three - May 1975 through May 1976) is the only other driver to win more than two consecutive races there.

• Since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993, every race that has ended under green has had a margin of victory under one second.

• There have been 99 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Alabama.

• 65 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Alabama.

Subway returns for Edwards: The #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the Subway paint scheme this weekend. The Subway crew will be unloading chassis RK-650 this weekend. This is the same Ford Fusion that Edwards raced at Daytona in July. He started that race fifth and finished fourth. In his previous 10 starts, Edwards has one top-five and three top-10 finishes at Talladega with an average start of 16.2 and average finish of 24.5. Edwards has completed 83.5% of his laps attempted at Talladega.(RFR), see images of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(10-30-2009)

Zecol returns to #98: The #98 team will unload the Zecol / Menards Ford for this weekend's AMP Energy 500. Zecol produces Professional quality, High Performance automotive chemicals and additives.(Yates Racing PR)(10-30-2009)

"Get on the 88" scheme at Talladega: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy will have a different look this weekend, thanks to the "Get on the 88" promotion from AMP Energy. More than 105,000 fans signed up to put their names on the #88 Chevy or pit wall banner for this weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #88 Chevy will feature more than 70,000 names on its black-and-green paint scheme for this weekend's race, while the additional names will appear on the pit wall banner. The fans who signed up to "Get on the 88" can go to www.AMPEnergy.com to find out if their names are on Earnhardt's Chevrolet or pit wall banner. By entering the same e-mail address used during registration, fans can search a grid on the car to see where their names are located. Earnhardt Jr. has led all but two of the 19 Sprint Cup races he has entered at Talladega for a total of 655 laps. Interim crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 engineers have chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-475 for this weekend's 500-mile event at Talladega. Earnhardt Jr. last drove this chassis to a 39th-place finish Daytona in July after being in involved in a mid-race accident. Before that, Earnhardt Jr. raced this chassis to a season-high second-place finish at Talladega in April.(HMS), see images of the "Get on the 88" scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(10-29-2009)

Pop-Tarts on the #5: Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway marks the final outing for the Pop-Tarts/CARQUEST paint scheme. Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's most popular morning food product, adorned the car at Las Vegas, Bristol, Tenn., and Concord, N.C., this season.(Roush Fenway PR), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2009)

Liberty Medical on the #43: This November, Liberty Medical is sponsoring #43-Reed Sorenson in observance of American Diabetes Month, to help raise awareness of this dangerous disease that has reached epidemic proportions. Liberty Medical is also a proud sponsor of The American Diabetes Association, which observes American Diabetes Month every November. Liberty Medical Supply, Inc., a Medco Health Solutions Inc., company, is the nation's largest provider of blood glucose testing supplies and related services to people with diabetes, serving over one million diabetes patients. Liberty also offers a full service pharmacy to meet patients' medication needs and provides education to help its patients better manage their health conditions.(RPM PR)(10-28-2009)

Final BB&T race for Bowyer: Talladega will mark the final race of the 2009 season where #33-Clint Bowyer's Chevy will sport the burgundy, white and gold paint scheme of Winston-Salem, N.C.,- based BB&T. The sponsor will once again support Bowyer's efforts for the 2010 season.(RCR PR), for an image of the car, see my #33 team paint scheme page.(10-28-2009)

Jr. Nation fans to have names on the #88: At this year's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, thousands of members of JR Nation will see their names on Earnhardt's #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy as part of the AMP Energy "Get on the 88" promotion, which has ended. See an image of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.
The more than 70,000 fans who signed up to "Get on the 88" can go to www.AMPEnergy.com to see where their names will be on the No. 88 AMP Energy "Get on the 88"/National Guard Chevrolet that Earnhardt will drive Nov. 1 at Talladega Superspeedway. AMP Energy unveiled the special paint scheme at www.AMPEnergy.com last weekend.(10-19/20-2009)

Pop Tarts for Martin at LMS: For the third time this season, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's most popular morning food product, will be on the hood of the #5 Chevy during this weekend's events at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In its most recent race, the Pop-Tarts/Carquest Chevy finished second in Martin's 1,000th Sprint Cup start at Bristol. Pop-Tarts will return to the hood for the final time this season at Talladega Superspeedway in two weeks. No driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup history has won more October races at Lowe's Motor Speedway than Mark Martin. If the #5 team can reach Victory Lane on Saturday, he would break a three-way tie with Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough to become the only driver with four October wins. Martin also would join teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon as the only active drivers with five victories at the intermediate oval. This weekend, Carquest and the #5 team will welcome honorary crew members Matt Krueger and Lyle Wuestenberg. Wuestenberg partnered with Carquest last November to help grant Krueger's dream. The 19-year-old Krueger, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, got the chance to drive his personal 1999 Chevy Camaro around Lowe's Motor Speedway.(HMS), see images of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(10-16-2009)

New sponsor for the #44: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that Hunt Brothers Pizza will sponsor AJ Allmendinger’s #44 Dodge for six races plus the All-Star race in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The announcement extends Allmendinger’s season through the Sept. 12 Richmond race. The Petty team remains committed to racing Allmendinger in a full season of competition if its success in generating sponsorship continues. “This is awesome news,” said Allmendinger who is 20th in the point standings despite entering the year outside the top 35. “I want to thank Hunt Brothers Pizza for coming on board and supporting us. I know our fans and NASCAR fans in general certainly appreciate all they are doing for the sport. We plan to give Hunt Brothers Pizza a lot to talk about in the coming weeks.” Hunt Brothers Pizza said its interest in Allmendinger and the Petty team would be a huge hit with its team members as well as their customers in over 6,000 locations across the country. "Partnering with Richard Petty Motorsports is exciting for everyone involved with Hunt Brothers”, said Scott Hunt, CEO of Hunt Brothers Pizza. “We feel blessed to be in a position to support AJ while connecting with our convenience store customers, many of whom are NASCAR fans. Getting the opportunity to work with “The King” Mr. Richard Petty, AJ Allmendinger and all the professionals at Richard Petty Motorsports, offers us a unique opportunity. We are excited and looking forward to seeing the Hunt Brothers Dodge on the track.” Tom Reddin, CEO at Richard Petty Motorsports: "AJ has done a heck of a job placing the #44 in the top 20, and we've been able to form some great partnerships along the way with Hunt Brothers Pizza, Dodge, Valvoline, Charter Communications, Harrah's, Super 8 Hotels and Paralyzed Veterans of America," said Reddin. "The success we are having on and off the track has helped us extend our schedule for the 44 team at least through the second Richmond race, and with a little help from some additional partners, we should have a good shot at making a successful full season. We think the on-track performance of the 44 team, AJ's personality, and all the assets of the Richard Petty Motorsports organization makes this team a very attractive and unique opportunity for potential partners." Allmendinger will race the Hunt Brothers Pizza paint scheme:
April 26 at Talladega
May 16 in the All-Star race
May 24 in The Coke 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway
July 11 in Chicagoland
(also ran at Indy on July 26)
Aug. 22 in Bristol
Sept. 6 in AtlantaNov. 1 in Talladega
Allmendinger joined the Petty team for the final five races of the 2008 season. The Los Gatos, Calif. native is a five-time victor in open wheel racing who made the switch to NASCAR two years ago.(Richard Petty Motorsports PR), see images of the scheme on the #44 Team Schemes page.(4-8/9-15-2009)

BB&T to sponsor #33 & Bowyer for eleven 2009 races: BB&T Corporation and Richard Childress Racing have agreed to an 11-race sponsorship for RCR’s #33 Chevy with driver Clint Bowyer for the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season. In addition to 10 points races, BB&T will also be the primary sponsor on Bowyer’s #33 Chevy for the annual Sprint Cup Series all-star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. The March 8 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will mark the first of three consecutive races for BB&T, followed by four in a row starting at Talladega in April and wrapping up with the all-star festivities in Charlotte. In September, BB&T will be showcased again in Atlanta and at Dover for the first of three Chase for the Sprint Cup races. Bowyer’s #33 Impala SS will also feature a burgundy and gold BB&T paint scheme at Martinsville and Talladega next fall. BB&T will serve as a major associate sponsor of the #33 Chevy for the remaining 26 races on the 2009 schedule while General Mills’ brands Cheerios and Hamburger Helper will be the primary sponsor. Next season will mark the second-consecutive year that BB&T has expanded its role within the RCR family of sponsors. In 2007, BB&T sponsored a partial Nationwide Series schedule with Bowyer in RCR’s flagship #2 Chevrolet. That role evolved into a 25-race schedule in 2008, in addition to two races on the #07 Chevy in the Sprint Cup Series.(RCR PR)(11-12-2008)

New emergency texting available to race patrons:International Speedway Corporation (ISC) has partnered with InStadiumSolutions to implement a text-message based communication system at all of its 12 motorsports facilities. The service was introduced last weekend during the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway. The system allows fans to communicate with the racetrack's command post if assistance is needed inside the facility. The technology was tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November during the final weekend of the NASCAR season. Instructions will be posted throughout each racetrack and will be broadcast through audio and video public announcements. Besides Darlington and Homestead-Miami, ISC owns and/or operates Daytona, Talladega, Michigan, Richmond, Auto Club Speedway, Kansas, Phoenix, Chicago, Martinsville and Watkins Glen. The Fan Text Messaging Service is also being used by several professional and college teams, as well as at events such as the Super Bowl, BCS National Championship and World Baseball Classic.(Associated Press)(5-14-2009)

NASCAR will crack down on aggressive driving: UPDATE: NASCAR plans to crack down on aggressive driving and bump drafting beginning with Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, particularly regarding two-car breakaways that have become commonplace with the new car. Track officials hope they got the attention of drivers when they parked #55-Michael Waltrip for pushing #48-Jimmie Johnson's car through the corners during Friday's second practice. "It at least sent a good point of conversation out there in the Motorhome 500 lot,'' series director John Darby said after Saturday's qualifying was rained out. The new car has presented a problem because two cars that match up well are able to pull away from the pack.(ESPN.com)(11-1-2009)UPDATE: At the drivers meeting Sunday morning in Talladega, NASCAR President Mike Helton warned drivers that there would be no pushing or bump drafting allowed in the turns through the entire race, including the last lap. The penalty for a first offense will be a drive through; on the last lap it will be a time or position penalty. Any offenses beyond the first will be NASCAR's discretion. See Helton's quotes at Hampton Roads.(11-1-2009)

Racing for Wildlife preserves Talladega mountain ridge: Racing for Wildlife, a organization spearheaded by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman to preserve land for hunting, fishing and other outdoors activities, announced its first property acquisition this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The 1,100 acres along the eight-mile ridge of Rebecca Mountain in the Talladega National Forest will allow the U.S. Forest Service to complete a portion of the Pinhoti Trail, which connects Rebecca Mountain to the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The property will be available for hiking, camping and recreation.(Alabama Live)(11-1-2009)

NASCAR happy with Talladega speeds: NASCAR is happy with the speeds of the Sprint Cup cars in practice and there are no plans to change the restrictor plates for qualifying or the race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said Friday night. Sprint Cup teams are using restrictor plates with holes 59/64ths of an inch in diameter, which is 1/64th of an inch smaller than what was used in April at Talladega. The entry blank for the race specifically states that NASCAR can change the restrictor plates after practice Friday. With temperatures in the 60s but a little wind that possibly slowed down the cars, the top speed in first practice Friday was 195.944 mph and the top speed in final practice was 193.154 mph. Last April, the top speed in first practice was 197.472 while in second practice it was 194.904.(SceneDaily)(10-31-2009)

Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame inductions: Fans voted in July for the 2009 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame honorees, and on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 7:00pm during Talladega Superspeedway’s AMP Energy 500 weekend, two new names will be added to this prestigious list: Morgan Shepherd and Jack Smith. The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in downtown Talladega at Davey Allison Memorial Park is both a focal point saluting NASCAR’s greatest names and a tribute to one of racing’s brightest stars – the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans’ vote chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines.(TSS)(10-29-2009)

82nd Airborne Chorus performing National Anthem at Talladega: The 82nd Airborne Division's "All-American" Chorus from Ft. Bragg, N.C., will perform the national anthem prior to the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Jeff Dubiel, Vice President of Sports for Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages will give the drivers' command as Grand Marshal and Ken Strnad, Senior Marketing Manager, AMP Energy Brand Team, will wave the green flag as Honorary Starter. The primary mission of the 82nd's Chorus is serving the soldiers of the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg. However, their dynamic performances have led to an increased demand for them to perform throughout the continental United States. Appearing in their maroon berets and ascots, the troopers of the "All-American" Chorus are truly ambassadors for the 82nd Airborne Division and the United States Army.(TSS)(10-29-2009)

Creek Medicine Man Restores Balance To Talladega: Strange occurrences and urban legends have swirled around Talladega Superspeedway since its inception forty years ago. But instead of focusing on rumors and myths during its Halloween race weekend, the historic track turned to a much more symbolic and meaningful ceremony to prepare for welcoming thousands of race fans. Creek Medicine Man Robert Thrower performed a traditional Native American blessing ceremony today on the start-finish line and asked for balance to be restored to the land. “Most everything in Native American belief is about keeping balance,” said Thrower. “Sometimes people and places can get out of balance and that unbalance may be perceived as something bad. What we did today was bless the track and ask for reconciliation so that balance can be restored. “ Thrower comes from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. He has been a traditional medicine man for nine years, and his family has a long history of performing traditional medicine. His great-grandmother was the last tribal medicine woman. The ceremony was opened with Thrower offering a prayer in his native Muscogee language. He then asked for reconciliation and the restoration of balance while burning a collection of ceremonial offerings in a small bowl. The ceremony was then closed with another prayer. Tickets prices start as low as $40 for the AMP Energy 500. To order, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(10-24-2009)

Fan Activities For HALLOW-DEGA Announced: Talladega Superspeedway announced a list of HALLOW-DEGA fan activities set for the AMP Energy 500 weekend, Oct. 30 – Nov.1. “Our plans are coming together for the World’s Largest Halloween Party,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “Best of all, there will be something for everyone. We have activities for the kids and parents too.”Activities for Saturday, Oct. 31 include:
· The SPEED Scream Contest on the SPEED stage
· The Sprint Costume Contest in the Sprint display
· A haunted maze located in the display area
· A fortune teller that will peer into the future
· A wax hands interactive display
· A Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest in the display area
· Halloween characters roaming throughout the display area
· A hall of mirrors and much more
For information on attending HALLOW-DEGA, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(10-22-2009)

Talladega raises catchfence: UPDATE Daytona too: As a safety precaution to protect fans and competitors, Talladega Superspeedway extended the height of its frontstretch catch fence by eight feet, president Rick Humphrey told ESPN.com Monday. The decision was made in reaction to a horrific accident on the final lap of the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race on April 29, which sent Carl Edwards' Ford airborne into the previous fencing and sent debris spraying into the grandstands. The fence held up in the crash but was destroyed, creating concern about fan safety at the high-speed 2.66-mile venue. Humphrey and his staff hired an outside engineering firm to survey the damage. It was recommended that the fence height be extended. It stood 14 feet in April. It now stands 22 feet, and the top bows out over the track surface. There are other enhancements to the fence, too, though Humphrey said he is not at liberty to discuss them. "The engineering team we consulted with has that information," he said. "It is proprietary information that they've provided to us. They're okay with the height, that's something to the naked eye you'll certainly be able to see. There are other variables you can't get into."(ESPN.com)(10-6-2009)

Talladega Offering Online Renewal Rights Transfer: For the first time ever, race fans can buy or sell "renewal rights" on their seat locations or their reserved overnight park camping space at Talladega Superspeedway. The new partnership with SeasonTicketRights.com allows race fans to transfer their renewal rights online via the Talladega Superspeedway Transfer Marketplace. Once transferred, the renewal rights on seat or overnight park locations are permanently transferred to the new account holder. The new account holder will then receive all future invoices and correspondence from Talladega. The Talladega Superspeedway Transfer Marketplace is available at http://talladega.seasonticketrights.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-26-2009)

Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day a success:As early as 8:00am on Sunday, fans were lining up in front of Talladega Superspeedway to take their vehicles on a lap around the 2.66 mile tri-oval during Fan Appreciation Day. Officials estimate 12,000 fans attended the event. Some came from as far away as Indiana and Florida, but all left with a story to tell. “This was payback to my dad,” said Mike McAnally from Gulf Shores, Ala. “Dad used to be a sheriff and worked security at the races a long time ago. When I was about 10, dad got to do a track drive like this. I remember when we went into Turn One I got scared and made him stop. When I got my track ride voucher for attending the Aaron’s 499, I called him up and told him he was going to get a chance to drive Talladega again.”
Jack Wilson of Tennyson, Ind. said he and his wife made the drive to Talladega just to take their new Corvette around the track. “I was hoping they would really let me open her up,” said Wilson. “But they had a truck pacing everyone. It was still worth the trip just to experience going around those turns. We had a good time.”
After taking their turn driving around the track, fans enjoyed lunch provided by Talladega Superspeedway, Pepsi and Golden Flake, a Q&A and autograph signing with Richard Brickhouse, Dave Marcis, Sterling Marlin and track president Rick Humphrey and a free concert by Darryl Worley. Tickets are still available for the upcoming Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 AMP Energy 500 Weekend. The AMP Energy 500 is Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and a critical factor in determining the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.(TSS)(9-22-2009)

MRO Concerts Announced For Talladega Overnight Parks: Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) has announced a four band lineup to play in several Talladega Superspeedway overnight parks. "MRO always does a great job securing bands to play in our overnight parks," said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. "The concerts are always a big hit with our fans. We still have limited availability in our reserved parks, so I would encourage everyone that plans on attending the AMP Energy 500 weekend to reserve their spaces now."
OVERNIGHT PARK Concerts: Open to overnight park customers
West B - Who So Ever (Friday and Saturday, 8 - 11 p.m.)
Family - The River (Friday and Saturday, 8 - 11 p.m.)
West C - Renaissance (Friday and Saturday, 8 - 11 p.m.)
North Park - Trackside the Band (Friday and Saturday, 8 - 11 p.m.)
For information on attending call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(8-29-2009)

Darryl Worley performing at Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day: Country music star Darryl Worley is set to perform a two-hour concert at the Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day on Sept 20, thanks to BamaJam Productions, a division of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. Worley is the latest addition to a day already teeming with fan activities. Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey is part of the entertainment for the day as well, as he is hosting a Q&A session with Richard Brickhouse, winner of the inaugural Talladega 500 (now the AMP Energy 500). Ticket buyers to either of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega, the Aaron's 499 in the spring or upcoming AMP Energy 500, will be given the opportunity to drive their cars around the track on paced laps. And all guests attending the Appreciation Day will also receive $2 off tickets to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum. Fan Appreciation Day is free and open to the public.(TSS PR)(8-26-2009)

Talladega Offering Garage Tours: Talladega Superspeedway is offering race fans attending the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series a guided tour of the Truck Series garage, an infield grandstand seat overlooking pit road and catered breakfast, lunch and beverages (soda water & beer) are all included in the $125 Saturday Miller Lite Paddock Club offer. Sunday Paddock Club ticket buyers can buy Saturday passes at a discounted rate of $100 per package. For information on hospitality packages and/or tickets, visit talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(8-25-2009)

Overnight Parks Available at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway has overnight park availability for race fans wanting to spend Hallow-Dega weekend at the track, including limited spaces in the historic infield. All reserved overnight parks outside the track open at 8am on Tuesday of race week (October 27) and must be cleared by 11am Monday following the race. Guests will be required to show their race tickets and parking pass prior to entry and a valid ticket must be shown each time for admission. Overnight park reservations can be made by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(7-27-2009)

Talladega to Fan Appreciation Day: Talladega Superspeedway will be welcoming race fans to the track on Sept. 20 for a Fan Appreciation Day. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Events for the day include lunch, photo opportunities, live music, games and more. Ticket buyers to either of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega, the Aaron’s 499 in the spring or upcoming AMP Energy 500, will be given the opportunity to drive their cars around the track on paced laps. Track president Rick Humphrey will also be hosting a Q&A session and joining him will be Richard Brickhouse, winner of the inaugural Talladega 500. Fans attending the Appreciation Day will also receive $2 off tickets to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum. Race fans should make plans now to experience HALLOW-DEGA during the AMP Energy 500 weekend, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. For information on tickets, visit talladegasuperspeedway.com, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office.(TSS)(7-20-2009)

$99 All-You-Can-Eat Deal Returning To Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the popular All-You-Can-Eat package for the Allison Grandstands returns for HALLOW-DEGA weekend, Oct. 30 - Nov. 1. The $99 package includes a reserved seat in the Allison Grandstand for the Mountain Dew 250 on Saturday, the AMP Energy 500 on Sunday, a Pre-race Pit Pass for Sunday’s AMP Energy 500 and all-you-can-eat vouchers for both days! The all-you-can-eat voucher is valid from 10 a.m.– noon Saturday and Sunday. Each trip to the concession stand allows a voucher holder to receive a maximum of 2 sandwiches (2 hotdogs or 2 hamburgers or 1 of each), 2 bags of chips and 2 soft drinks. This offer sold-out in the spring, so fans wanting to take advantage of this great deal should act soon. The included Pre-race Pit Pass allows access to pit road from 8 a.m. until one hour before the start of the AMP Energy 500 on Sunday only. A tram will shuttle guests from the front of the Allison Grandstand to pit road. Pit road access is subject to change pending NASCAR rules and subject to time and weather permitting. For information on tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(7-16-2009)

‘Dega Dollars Return To Talladega: The ‘Dega Dollars promotion that Talladega Superspeedway unveiled earlier this year is returning for the AMP Energy 500 weekend. For every $45 ‘Dega Dollar combo package purchased, race fans will receive a reserved seat in the Lincoln or Gadsden grandstands for the AMP Energy 500 plus 10 ‘Dega Dollars. This combo offers savings of approximately 45% from previous years’ prices, when a similar package could cost up to $85. ‘Dega Dollars spend like cash at all Americrown concession stands at Talladega Superspeedway. Combo meals were also created at the concession stands earlier this year that allow fans to save up to 25%. Talladega Superspeedway continues to offer free day parking on track property and free overnight parks, so attending a race weekend is now more affordable than ever in recent history. For information on tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(7-7-2009)

Notes: Teams in both of these NASCAR series will run the same tire codes at Talladega this weekend, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tire codes that Sprint Cup teams ran at this track earlier this season . . . on the Cup side, this left-side tire code (D-4138) was run at Talladega last season, while this right-side code (D-4224) was introduced this year . . . this is the first time Camping World Truck teams will run either of these two tire codes . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Talladega . . . air pressures in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

DRIVER/TEAM/TESTING NEWS

Sadler officially in a Ford at 'Dega: Elliott Sadler’s #19 Stanley car will race as a Ford for the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Sadler is racing the Ford Fusion in preparation for Richard Petty Motorsports switch to Ford beginning in 2010. Sadler will return to his familiar #19 Dodge entry for the final three races of 2009. ON DRIVING A FORD AT TALLADEGA: “Richard Petty Motorsports is working with Ford Racing as we get ready to make the full-time switch at Daytona in 2010. Since this is the final restrictor plate race of the season, we made the decision to run a Ford to get some work done in advance. This will be our first time to practice and work on a Fusion under real race conditions. It should help us get ready to make a strong showing at Daytona and put us in the best position to start next season. I’ll be back in a Dodge at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead, but since it’s important to start a season off on the right foot we thought we’d try to get a head start.”(RPM)(10-27-2009)

Sadler in a Ford at Talladega AND more races: Richard Petty Motorsports driver Elliott Sadler will drive a [#19] Yates Racing Ford in next weekend's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Sadler, who drove for Robert Yates Racing before moving to RPM, said it will be for only one race. RPM and Yates are in the final stages of a merger that will move RPM from Dodge to Ford in 2010. RPM owner Richard Petty said last week at Charlotte he hoped to use a Yates car for at least one race this season. Officials close to the situation said on Friday at Martinsville Speedway the plan is to put Sadler in the Ford regardless of whether the merger is finalized.(ESPN)(10-23-2009)UPDATE: #44-AJ Allmendinger will run the last three races of the Sprint Cup season in a Ford Fusion, a team source told FOXSports.com. According to a Dodge source, #19-Elliott Sadler will drive a Ford beginning next week at Talladega and finish the season driving for the make. Their Richard Petty Motorsports teammates, Kasey Kahne and Reed Sorenson, will continue to drive Dodges for the rest of the year. RPM is currently in talks to merge with Yates Racing in 2010. Whether or not the deal goes through, RPM's majority owner George Gillett has said his organization will run Fords next year. Unlike the other RPM teams, Allmendinger's #44 car is not under contract with Dodge so the switch is able to be made early. Sadler's #19 team was let out of its contract. Additionally, RPM General Manager Roobie Loomis confirmed Friday that Allmendinger will drive a Ford at Daytona International Speedway during the Goodyear tire test on Nov. 2-3. That Ford will be equipped with the new FR9 engine, allowing the team to work on the balance of the car as the engine is located differently than the current Dodge engine.(FoxSports)(10-24-2009)

New Ford Engine to debut at Talladega: After months of anticipation, Ford Racing announced that the FR9 engine will make its debut under the hood of Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford Fusion and David Ragan's #6 UPS Ford Fusion in next week's Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. "I'm very excited about the debut of the FR9," said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "All of us are anxious to see it in competition for the first time. Those of us who have been involved in this project agree that one of the biggest hurdles we've faced in making this transition to the FR9 this year has been the fact the current Ford engine is still so competitive, along with the economics of obsoleting the inventory of the current engine and parts. This has been a tough year for us and our teams on the track, especially since we had such a strong 2008, and the priority for everyone this year has been solving the on-track performance, which has slowed down the rollout of the FR9."
Code-named FR9, this new piece is the first purpose-built NASCAR racing engine to ever come out of Ford Motor Company. Its design has been spearheaded and developed by famed engine builder Doug Yates and Ford Racing engineer David Simon. "This puts us on a level playing field with the rest of the competition and it's something we're excited about working on," said Yates, who has been involved with the project since it began three years ago. "Right out of the box the engine is really impressive power-wise. We feel like it's going to give us some advantages aerodynamically where, perhaps, we can tape the cars up more and run the engines hotter. The oiling system is designed for a racing engine and, to this day, the current engine has done a great job for many years, but we've got to remember when I started 20 years ago the block was already in existence. So a lot of things have changed," continued Yates. "The demands have changed. The RPM and the power levels have changed tremendously, and to have an opportunity to have something new and move forward makes this an exciting time to be part of Ford."
Some of those crucial decisions included an all-new platform for FR9 with no carry over components or dimensions from the current production-based 351 engine. Elements such as the induction exhaust, valvetrain, cooling, lubrication and sealing systems have all been improved for greater efficiency and performance. While the restricted version of the engine will debut next week, it has yet to be determined when FR9 will hit the track at an unrestricted venue.(Ford Racing)(10-23-2009)